New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-01
NEW PLEASURE GROUND.
PARK TO BE COMPLETED.

THE SUGGESTIONS OF MEssRs oLMsTED AND vAUx
TO BE FOLLowED-PICTUREsQUE SCENERY.
Mornngsidc Park which has for years existed In
name rather than In fact will In another year or Two
take its place among the most attractive parts Vi the
city. The Legislature last spring pro
vded 100000 for the improvements In the parks
and of this s25O,0O0 will be expended on Morning
side The property-Owners In the vicinity, who have
been petitionng for this work. look forward to
seeing 1t accomplished. Around the park new bulid
ings scattered all the Harlem plain, and all
the streets laid out for the other structures to fol
low. At one-hundred- and sxteenth-st a tower Is
being bnlt which will contain four large elevators
TO carry passengers to the station Of the elevated road
which is here eighty feet above the pavement
MornngsIdc Park includes the strip Of territory run
ming along the side Of the high bluff from Onehundrcd
and tenth St., which Is the end Of Central Park to
hundred and twenty The bluff Overlooks
Harlem and the upper end Of the city to the east tho
view stretches away beyond Hell Gate to Long Island
and the Sound. The greatest width Of the park Ia
from the top Of the bluff to St. Nicholas ave- below,
not moro than the width Of Madison Square. 1t In
cludcs the entire rocky sides Of the cliff that would
have been costly and difficult to build ON. From the
elevated road where It turns around the high curve
at Eighth ave- and One-hunred tenth st., the bluff
presents high stone wall, in which at the juncture
of each street is rounded projection giving the whole
appearance of some old walled town. And the spot
Harlem fought on the plain below and Wash
ingon's troops marched along tho bluff they were
retroating from New-York. At One-hundred and
twenty st. there still remains I'm good preserva-
ton of tho old forts like that I'm Central Park,
built I'm 1912, when a second visit anticipated
from the British troops.
some surveys OF Morningsde Park made
by Engineer Kellogg in 1870, and In 1873 Frederick
Law olmstei and Calvert vaux presented careful
preliminary study for finishing the park. 1t was
then estimated that the cost Of tho park would be
more than 100000 In the interval since then the
roadway the top OF the bluff and the wall have boon
built by the Department of Public Works, and the
park authorities have decorated the wall by the erec
ton Of e bays broad stone staircase, divided
into terraces, down the side of the cliff at One-hun
drcd xtecnth-st These and other changes have
been made at cost Of about 100000 a portion OF
which was assessed on the surrounding property,
which has benefited by the Improvement. President
Borden believes the remaining work on Morningside
can all be done in the limit Of this last appropriation
The wall and the terraccd stairway were all
In the suggestions made by Messrs-
Omstod and Vaux I'm their preliminary
study. The stone Is rockhnished, SO as to permit
cllnging vines to grow up over the side OF tho cliff
The roadway at the top is not what the artists had
intended, for It Is only thrty-fve feet In width and
should have been nearer hundred to provide for
Of fine trees and for the carriages which may be
10 scicCt rOutc AZ the grows. pHo
Of the most marked defects In the city and It's parks
is the narrow roadways, which become over
crowded the travel Increases. From this road,
overlooking the city. the report recommends that
there should be space for thousands Of people
under the at the time that carriages are
moving along the roadway. 1t Is desirable the re-
port continues that he OF this park should
DO striking and picturesque and in str5ng contrast
with that OF Central Park which Is but short distance
away p; 50 that Morningslde may have character Of
Its own and not convey the impression Of icing
weaker pendant Of the larger park Near the north
west end entire breadth OF Mornngside Is occu'
pied by masses Of rock like dragged mountain side
There Is soil for the support Of large trees, but
the conditions aro well fitted for the advantageous
display OF the interesting forms OF vegetation tech
nlcally termed Alpine plants.
The department has arranged for plaza at tho
entrance 10 Central Park at Onehundred and tenth
II. AMI EG.Ith-ave On the side OF this plaza
toward MOrningsldc, the original plans contemplated
balcony that would overlook In that park
pool OF water a cascade AMI fountains, opening
beyond into a larger BASIN where arrangement
OF islands and points could be In vlsas Tadatlng
from the centre and terminating at picturesque points
In the high rocks opposite. Aquatic plants would
break the surface OF little lagnons and these would
be ovcrhung by a luxurant and Intricate foliage Of
a tropical character having the appearance Of
natural growth from the banks, and backed and
protected by thokcts OF large but inconSpicuous and
entrance would be carried opposite to these thchets
aIordng openings where vstas OF similar character
could be seen. Fountains and flower beds were con
tcmplated In the management OF the terraces about
the central stairway with arcades and grottos aud
positions for the display of statues and other works
OF art. The principal walk leading north In the park
10 be cxcavated along the foot Of the ledge to be
deeply shaded wild and secluded until II reached one
hundred and twentieth ST., and there to open I'm
pcctedy the only quiet and sunny lawn In the park.
The lawn was bc bOrlered by shrubbcry and How
erng plants and chalet for ercshments be built
In tho rocks overhangng the lawn on the west. The
walk would then ascend a rocky dehlc Of an Alpine
character past the foot of the old fort to the entrance
OF riverside Park, which is the burial place Of
General Grant.
TIC report In concluding, refers to the varl-
city OF scenery proposed While strongly marked,
the transitions To be nowhere abrupt or sensa-
tdonal. Tho visitor will pass from the luxurianco
OF tropical garden through dense masses of foliage
unfil he the terrace district with Its strik
Ing architectural and floral decora ons. He VIII fol-
low then the wild plcturcqu and sombre walk along
the foot of III" ledge TO the bright open lawn, simple
I'm character. but highly cultivated. Then he will
mount the dragged hillside, with It's low growth of
brilliant Alpine plants sprhslDg from the crcyces Of
the rocks and by the stairway ascend the vine covered
walk.